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Naval Group has cut steel on the first FDI frigate for the Royal Swedish Navy, the Luleå, at its Lorient yard. The ship is the first of four frigates ordered by Sweden on 31 August 2026, with delivery scheduled for 2030.
MSC World Atlantic floated out at Chantiers de l'Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire, France, after construction began with a steel-cutting ceremony in March 2025. The 215,863-gross-ton ship is due for delivery in 2027 and is scheduled to debut on 13 Nov 2027 from Port Canaveral, Florida.
Compagnie Maritime Nantaise, a Sogestran subsidiary, has ordered a hybrid ro-ro vessel from Guangzhou Shipyard International for European space cargo. The ship, due for delivery in 2030, will carry satellites, launch vehicles and other cargo for the European space industry. French naval architect VPLP is handling the design. The vessel will have three automated OceanWings rigid sails, a ro-ro deck, a controlled-environment compartment for space-related cargoes and a flexible open deck.
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines has named Fujian Sailor, the first LNG carrier fitted with Wind Challenger solid sails, ahead of delivery to Chevron under a long-term time charter by the end of September 2026. The 295-metre, 174,000-cubic-metre ship was named on 10 September at Hanwha Ocean’s Geoje yard in South Korea.
Vietnam Ship Repair published a 2026 ranking of the five largest container shipping companies by capacity and fleet size. MSC tops the list with about 7.3 million TEU and about 1,000 ships, followed by Maersk, CMA CGM, COSCO Shipping and Hapag-Lloyd.
The 2007 Alliage 56 DS Promise 4 spent two years at Rivergate Marina & Shipyard in Brisbane during a round-the-world voyage. Owners Graeme and Moira used the stop for a mini refit, storage and inspections before planning to continue toward Europe via the Indian Ocean.
The French Navy said its recruitment needs will rise 20% in 2026 compared with 2025 incorporations, including the new national service due to start in September 2026. It said 600 contracts are open this year for that scheme, while Naval Group said it recruited 4,500 people over the past three years.
About 15 Naval Group employees joined Thales’s cortAIx teams from March to July 2026, and have worked full-time at Ollioules since early July. The work is focused on AI for naval systems, including collaborative combat, mission autonomy for drone swarms, logistics support and tactical situation modules.
Naval Group chief executive Pierre-Éric Pommellet appeared on BFM Business on 26 June, where he discussed export contracts for FDI frigates with Sweden and Greece and submarine deals with Indonesia and the Netherlands. He also referred to French programmes including the SNLE 3G and the new-generation aircraft carrier, and to the market conditions facing naval defence.
CMN’s move from aircraft work to shipbuilding began in 1946, after Félix Amiot abandoned aviation following nationalisation in the sector. The yard launched its first vessel, the 22-metre trawler Annie, at Cherbourg on 23 June 1948 for Les Chalutiers Cherbourgeois.
Squircle Capital has increased its stake in MB92 Group to 100%, after a series of earlier increases from 77.5% in 2019 to 93% in 2022 and 98% in 2025. MB92 said the move comes as it develops a five-year strategic and expansion plan.
Derecktor said it has expanded project management, installed a fully integrated ERP system across its three shipyards in 2025, and will extend new construction into its Florida yards. The yard also launched Derecktor One, a refit program offering one point of accountability and, where appropriate, all-inclusive pricing at its Florida facilities.